First Hand Account of Obama Elmendorf Visit

[snookums1]

First, and the most important news as far as I'm concerned, I wrote on Veteran's Day that Mo Bailey received tickets from Senator Lisa Murkowski so that he and Ann could attend the event. Sure enough, there he was in the DV section (in military terms, that means Distinguished Visitor)! It seems that he received a call from another member of Obama's communications team who told him where he should be sitting to be on "the rope line"...where the President would come out to shake hands. My understanding after the fact is that many of the DVs were slated to meet with Obama as well. However, our President decided to cancel those meetings because he spent extra time with people who needed him more...the troops who had just returned from combat and the families of those soldiers who didn't make it back.

So, Mo got to shake the hand of the President and he was glowing afterwards!







During the President's speech, there were two profound moments for me:

1) When a service member from the audience said "Love you" and the President said, "I love you back." I'm fairly certain that call-and-response has NEVER happened with any other president when speaking to the troops in Alaska. It also got a special mention on Elmendorf's website, which seems particularly enthusiastic about his visit.

2) One of the biggest cheers the President received was after his comment: "I will never hesitate to use force to protect America, but I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary." President Obama had to pause for cheers after the first part of the comment...using force to protect America. However, by far the biggest cheer came after the second part, telling them he wouldn't send them unless it was absolutely necessary.

I believe there are some right-wing chicken-hawks who need to take note of that. Combat troops and their families who have made those sacrifices understand the difference.
http://divasblueoasis.com/

There are a lot of pictures there

[theal3]

Thx for posting. Yes the military know the difference, non political. My nephews are serving now and family is family and we they are Republicans and I'm a Democrat. God Bless our troops.

The speech I heard on TV with the troops made all this other trite stuff going on with tea parties, and effigies, look silly. There is so much serious, productive things happening for the better IMHO right now.

[ShooFly]

Tea parties are just a distraction and mean very little in the scheme of things. Thank you for the article.

[Lifeguard]

What an excellent article, and background on that visit to Alaska.

The pictures are quite revealing, too.

The best read, so far, this morning. Thank you!

[snookums1]

I posted it because some keep saying the military hates Obama. Yes, like in civilian life there are probably some that do but for the most part, the opposit is closer to the truth.

[syringa]

I posted it because some keep saying the military hates Obama. Yes, like in civilian life there are probably some that do but for the most part, the opposit is closer to the truth.

Those I know in the military either do not like Obama or are apathetic to him. Do I think there are those in the military who like him? Sure.

I am not surprised to see and hear of them being excited for the President to visit. Any President. It is a naturally exciting event for them to receive a Presidential visit and they will act accordingly. I also believe if there are only so many open seats at the venue, those who like the visitor will be the ones to volunteer to attend.

[daniel green]

snipped


During the President's speech, there were two profound moments for me:

1) When a service member from the audience said "Love you" and the President said, "I love you back." I'm fairly certain that call-and-response has NEVER happened with any other president when speaking to the troops in Alaska. It also got a special mention on Elmendorf's website, which seems particularly enthusiastic about his visit.

2) One of the biggest cheers the President received was after his comment: "I will never hesitate to use force to protect America, but I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary." President Obama had to pause for cheers after the first part of the comment...using force to protect America. However, by far the biggest cheer came after the second part, telling them he wouldn't send them unless it was absolutely necessary.

snipped

Absolutely love this! Gave me goosebumps reading it. Loved the pictures, too.

Thx for posting this!

[Lifeguard]

Absolutely love this! Gave me goosebumps reading it. Loved the pictures, too.

Thx for posting this!

Judging from the video link to the reception he got, I think Obama is doing well among responsible rational Americans, military and others.

http://www.themudflats.net/2009/11/13/president-obama-at-elmendorf-air-force-base/

[snookums1]

Judging from the video link to the reception he got, I think Obama is doing well among responsible rational Americans, military and others.

http://www.themudflats.net/2009/11/13/president-obama-at-elmendorf-air-force-base/ Thanks. From your link:

It was nice to see so many smiling faces who did look really pleased that the President had taken time out of his schedule to meet with them and talk with them. The speech was not long, but it was well-received, and when the President started shaking hands, he was just about mobbed.

I stood up on the risers to get a good angle for pictures, and even when my eye lost him in the crowd, all I had to do was look out over the sea of people and I was able to tell where he was. All arms were held out, holding cameras with glowing screens, pointed at him from every direction. The effect was almost like the tentacles of a sea urchin, or a great glowing starfish that moved slowly around the room, following his every move.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

I posted it because some keep saying the military hates Obama. Yes, like in civilian life there are probably some that do but for the most part, the opposit is closer to the truth.

How accurate do you think that description is given the name of the blog sponsoring the article is:

‘Lefty Blogs’ Taking Back America in all fifty states?

[snookums1]

How accurate do you think that description is given the name of the blog sponsoring the article is:

‘Lefty Blogs’ Taking Back America in all fifty states? If you look at any pictures of him at any military base and if you look at the pictures of him at the Alaskan base and if you bother to look and listen to the videos at any military base you will see he is always well received and the soldiers always form mobs to shake his hand or take pictures or just touch him. If the Right blogs took the time to take the pictures or videos they would show the same. Sorry, have to get the footage where it is available. It is not my fault that the right bloggers never go to his events but spend all their time dissing anything he does and saying things like the military hates Obama.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

If you look at any pictures of him at any military base and if you look at the pictures of him at the Alaskan base and if you bother to look and listen to the videos at any military base you will see he is always well received and the soldiers always form mobs to shake his hand or take pictures or just touch him. If the Right blogs took the time to take the pictures or videos they would show the same. Sorry, have to get the footage where it is available. It is not my fault that the right bloggers never go to his events but spend all their time dissing anything he does and saying things like the military hates Obama.

I only asked why you think that linking to a left wing blog would be accurate information. I think that no matter how you spin it unless you have a source which is not biased you will not get an unbiased opinion.

The left wing blog will see a "smile" as love and the right wing blog will see a yawn as bored, not tired. Simple really. Not to mention the fact I do not see any pictures of any individual soldiers-- hard to say what reaction there is, really.

[theal3]

I only asked why you think that linking to a left wing blog would be accurate information. I think that no matter how you spin it unless you have a source which is not biased you will not get an unbiased opinion.

The left wing blog will see a "smile" as love and the right wing blog will see a yawn as bored, not tired. Simple really. Not to mention the fact I do not see any pictures of any individual soldiers-- hard to say what reaction there is, really.

The event and speech was on TV, so a left wing blog wrote about it. That doesn't make it untrue.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

The event and speech was on TV, so a left wing blog wrote about it. That doesn't make it untrue.

The conclusion of the entire reason for posting this blog was:

I posted it because some keep saying the military hates Obama. Yes, like in civilian life there are probably some that do but for the most part, the opposit is closer to the truth.

Trying to prove that the military LOVES Obama. Thus my question, how can you decide by words written from a Left wing blog about an event come to the conclusion that the military loves Obama?

Answer:

You can't.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

:rolleyes: Do you even have a concept of military American style? There's the Pentagon, JCS and the CIC. Then, there's the entire command structure and those who serve.

As one who served, YES, there is indeed a definite morale boost, when the CIC arrives and walks among us. Unlike a former CIC who arrived to disrupt the first real meal in months. Thanx George, for that moment. :glare:

Just because the military are taught and respect is demanded, does not mean that that translates into “love”. And since you served you should know that right?

A "George moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

Oh yes, not only *I* .. but too many in the military remember that special George moment, "mission accomplished." And how many deployments later? GMAB

The CNN reporter even says a “tepid response to Obama” from the Marines. Quite clear where the emotion was with Bush—can’t hide that no matter how hard you keep trying…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw

[Lifeguard]

It wasn't a stretch at all, it was a flat out insult.

Isn't the saying, if the shoe fits?

Yes, it IS a stretch.

NO, "doing well among" does not mean what you are implying. You must understand that "doing well among" does NOT mean getting all rational people to agree with him.

You see how you stretched and twisted it? Was that "rational"?